Waynesboro receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Waynesboro
Staunton
Opportunity
64 · Top 34%
vs67 · Top 27%
Growth
83 · Top 3%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
76 · Top 26%
vs70 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 46%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
82 · Top 47%
vs88 · Top 37%
Schools
38 · Bottom 33%
vs58 · Top 42%
Access
41 · Bottom 2%
vs11 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 45%
vs48 · Bottom 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Waynesboro | Staunton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,841 | 25,948 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,994 | $65,581 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,636 | $36,608 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,526/sq mi | 1,303/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $245,500 | $259,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 | $1,024 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.9% | 60.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 37.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 12.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 438 | 94 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 19.2 | 3.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 154.7% | -28.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 28°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.2" | 40.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 95 mi | 102 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 22.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.98 | 12.42 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 41.8% | 54.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 57.2% | 68.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 92.0% | 78.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Waynesboro
63
Your Score
65
Area Score
Staunton
57
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Waynesboro, VA · Staunton, VA · How this is calculated: methodology